Fr. Corapi: Lent: Season of Penance, Season of Hope

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/february.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

  March 4, 2011 

THE TRIB TIMES WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15). 

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(Isa 58:5-7) Is this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thy own flesh.

CNS: Pope says Lent is time to renounce selfishness

THE CATHOLIC LEADER : Faith-filled Christians rejoice despite the crosses we all carry by Archbishop John Bathersby 

FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Fr. Corapi: Lent: Season of Penance, Season of Hope

Another Lenten season will be upon us soon.  Although Lent is a season of penance; it is a season of hope more than anything.  For as surely as Easter Sunday follows Good Friday, so the hope of Lent gives way to the fulfillment of that hope which is the Resurrection.

It seems to be a law woven into creation that there must be sacrifice before there can be victory.  There must be a dying to sin and self before there can be a rebirth in Christ.  As we walk the path of Lent we should use this graced time to exercise discipline in the small things of life.  There can be no victory in anything: sports, business, military, or life in general, without self-discipline.

Examples of this discipline are many.  They can be first and foremost in the area of charity to others, and this begins at home.  Perhaps there is someone in your life that rubs you the wrong way, your "hair shirt".  Deny the inclination to bicker and complain.  Love the person whether you feel like it or not.  Do some small act of kindness for them.

Pray the Rosary every day (or once a week, or 3 times a week, etc.) of Lent, or the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.  If you love chocolate, exercise discipline and don't eat it through the days of Lent, offering your sacrifice to Jesus through Mary for the salvation of souls.

Assist at holy Mass herhaps one or more days during the week as a preparation for the great gift of the Paschal mystery which unfolds during Holy Week.  Discipline yourself to be more recollected and reverent at the Eucharist, realizing that this is nothing less than the same sacrifice of Calvary offered in a sacramental manner.

The discipline of Lent always opens the door for the bright light of Easter.  The pain of Good Friday is at once the joy and triumph of the holy Cross.  No passion and death, no Victory.  In Jesus we walk through the trials and frequent darkness of this life to the unending joy and light of heaven.  It is the Cross that wins that victory we know as Easter.

May this Lent be a time of true hope for you, a time of self-discipline and spiritual battle that leads to great personal triumph in Jesus Christ at Easter.  Dying He destroyed our death, rising He restored our life, come, Lord Jesus, come!

VIA BHLA2: CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR CONCERNING THE ASSAULT OF DESPAIR AND ITS REMEDY

THE SECOND ASSAULT by which the perverse one attempts our destruction is the terror which he would infuse into our minds at the recollection of our past sins, hoping thereby to drive us to despair.

In this peril, hold fast to the infallible rule that the remembrance of your sins is the effect of grace, and is most salutary if it inspires within your heart sentiments of humility, compunction, and confidence in God's mercy.  But if such recollection creates vexation and despondency, leaving you spiritless from the apparent cogency of the reasons adduced to convince you that you are irrevocably lost, be assured that it has been suggested by the devil.  In such circumstances, humble yourself the more, and have greater confidence in God; thus shall you destroy the strategem of the devil, turn his own weapons against him, and give greater glory to God.

It is true that you should be truly contrite for having offended such sovereign goodness, as often as you call to mind your past offenses; but as often as you ask pardon you should have a firm confidence in the infinite mercy of Jesus Christ.

I will go further and say that even though God Himself should seem to say within your heart that you are not one of His flock, still place your confidence in Him; rather say to Him in all humility: "Thou hast good reason indeed, O Lord, to condemn me for my sins, but I have greater reason in Thy mercy to hope for pardon.  Have pity then, O Lord, on a humble sinner condemned by his own sinfulness, but redeemed by Thy Blood.  I commit myself entirely to Thy hands, O my Redeemer; all my hopes are in Thee, trusting that in Thine infinite compassion, Thou will save me to the glory of Thy name.  Do with me as Thou wilt, for Thou alone art my Lord.  Even though, My Lord, Thou shouldst destroy me, ever will I hope in Thee."

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 28- "On holy and blessed prayer"

15. If you are clothed in all meekness and freedom from anger, you will not have much trouble in loosing your mind from captivity.

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